> Louis Killen > Songs > Young Edwin in the Lowlands
> Peter Bellamy > Songs > Edmund in the Lowlands
> Martin Carthy > Songs > Young Emma

Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low / Edwin / Young Emma

[ Roud 182 / Song Subject MAS289 ; Master title: Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low ; Laws M34 ; G/D 2:189 ; Henry H113 ; Ballad Index LM34 ; VWML CJS2/9/2427 ; Wiltshire 784 ; DT EDWRDLOW ; Mudcat 22884 ; trad.]

Lucy Broadwood: Cecil Sharp’s Collection of English Folk Songs Katherine Campbell: Songs From North-East Scotland. Gale Huntington, Lani Herrmann, John Moulden: Sam Henry’s Songs of the People James Porter and Herschel Gower: Jeannie Robertson: Emergent Singer, Transformative Voice Frnk Purslow: Marrow Bones Steve Roud, Julia Bishop: The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L. Lloyd: Penguin Book of English Folk Songs

Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low is a ballad of a cruel murder from Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L.Lloyd’s The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. According to the book notes, George Gardiner and Charles Gamblin collected it in 1907 from Mrs Hopkins of Axford, Basingstoke, Hampshire, and Vaughan Williams in 1909.

Harry Cox sang Young Edmund in a recording made at his home in Catfield, Norfolk, in the late 1950s to early 1960s that was included in 1998 on the Topic ballad anthology O’er His Grave the Grass Grew Green (The Voice of the People Volume 17).

Louis Killen recorded Young Edwin in the Lowlands in 1965 for his Topic album Ballads & Broadsides. This recording was also included on the Topic compilation CDs English & Scottish Folk Ballads (1996) and English Originals (1999). Angela Carter noted on Killen’s album:

Usually, folk songs tell of a sailor’s joyful homecoming, with a happy welcome from the girl he left behind; but Young Edwin’s welcome is the cold steel of a sword blade. The girl’s cruel parents murder the returned wanderer because his pockets are lined with gold. A favourite of the broadside printers, who knew a good melodrama when they saw one, this ballad has travelled to Canada and the U.S.A. This version is substantially that which Ralph Vaughan Williams collected in Hampshire in 1907; it is printed in The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.

Dellie Norton of Sodom, North Carolina, sang Young Emily in a 1967 recording mode on her front porch. It was included in 2005 on Dark Holler. John Cohen noted:

Sharp collected eleven versions of this song (no  56), also known as Young Edmond in the Lowland Low and The Driver Boy; five are from North Carolina. The man in the story is sometimes named Edward or Edwin. Dellie’s performance here displays her stylized singing, which is more exaggerated than that of her neighbour. Dellie was a feisty and welcoming person, the inspiration for a later generation of ballad singers. Tracks 4, 5, and 6 were recorded on her porch as part of the filming of End of an Old Song.

She relates: “I really sang, I eally had fun. I had no cars. I’d steal horses and ride ’em out. I had no cars, or nothing like that to ride. I’d go everywhere, me and my boyfriends, steal people’s horses and ride to Marshall, and all over the place and back. Knew we really had times back in the olden times. We’d play twist, had the fiddles and banjers… Sometimes we’d go up on the mountain, build us up a fire, ’n’ take banjers ’n’ fiddles ’n’ played… You don’t know what good times we see’d back them day… Oh, when I get lonesome, by myself, up in there singing a little, singing.”

When asked when she would sing the old “love ballads”, Dellie replied: “Anytime when I be by myself, when I get lonesome, way up in the mountains, a-sanging or a-hunting—shoot squirrels, shoot crows in the fields. I’ve had a hard time all my life working now—downed trees in the mountains: ashes, tan bark, hauled ’em out, sawed them, sold them… most any kind of work to make a living.”

Lizzie Higgins sang Young Emsley to Bill Leader in his own home, Camden Town, London, on 5 January 1968. This recording was released a year later on her Topic album Princess of the Thistle. Another recording of Lizzie Higgins made by Ailie Munro in 1970 was included in 2006 on her Musical Traditions anthology In Memory of Lizzie Higgins. The latter’s accompanying booklet commented:

Not a song found in the repertoires of too many current British singers, in Rod’s experience, yet Roud has some 203 instances. But 56 of these are broadsides and another 94 are from North America, so perhaps it’s not so surprising. Unusually, Scotland’s 19 entries come from 16 different singers—none of them have been collected twice. Again unusually, England’s 25 entries contain the name of only one well-known singer, Harry Cox, while Ireland’s 8 boast Maggie Murphy, Geordie Hanna and Eddie Butcher amongst them.

Peter Hall considered that this was an English song, its stanza form perhaps modified by chapbook transmission, brought by coastal fishing trade almost a century ago to Aberdeenshire, where it is always sung to this air. Although also a great favourite of Betsy Whyte’s, Lizzie seems to have learned if from her grandmother Maria, in a house filled not only with traditional song but also with popular music of all kinds, from Caruso to Victorian ditties.

Eddie Butcher of Magilligan, Co. Derry, sang The Lowlands Low in July 1969 to Hugh Shields. This recording was included on the 3 CD set that accompanied Shields’ 2011 book on Eddie Butcher, All the Days of His Life.

Both Hedy West and Ian Manuel recorded their versions of Young Emily and Edmund in c.1971 for their never issued Topic album Matching Ballads of the British Isles and America. Hedy West sang Young Edmund in a c.1979 recording made in Bühlertal, Germany that was released in 2019 on her posrthumous Fledg’ling album Untitled.

Steeleye Span recorded the ballad as Edwin in 1974 for their sixth album, Now We Are Six; their first album with drummer Nigel Pegrum. As so often, their shortened the original version by a few verses. S. Bralex wrote the story Edwin to accompany this song.

Barry Skinner sang Edwin in the Lowlands Low on his 1975 album Abroad As I Was Working. He noted:

I first heard Edwin in the Lowlands sung by that very very fine singer Louis Killen—and started singing it many years later, when I had refound the words.

Derek Sarjeant and Hazel King sang Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low on their 1976 album Hills & Dales. They noted:

Many versions of this song [are] found in England, Scotland and Ireland. Several versions also found in America. The text and tune are printed in the Journal of the Folk Song Society and The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. Collected by Charles Gamblin and Ralph Vaughan Williams [from Mrs. Hopkins in Axford, Hampshire] in 1907.

George Hanna sang Young Edmund in the Lowlands Low in a recording made in his sister Sarah Anne O’Neill’s home near Derrytresk, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, by Robin Morton in 1977. It was published a year later on the siblings’ Topic album of traditional songs of a Tyrone family, On the Shores of Lough Neagh, and it was included in 1998 on the Topic anthology of tragic ballads, O’er His Grave the Grass Grew Green (The Voice of the People Volume 3). John Moulden noted on the first album:

This often heard song, spread by ballad sheets in Ireland, Scotland and England, has been published many times and has been collected recently from other Ulster singers by Robin Morton and Hugh Shields. It is also common in North America, especially in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. This song also came to Geordie from Mary McMahon who, though she sang her husband’s family songs, had some from her own father. The air is in the Re mode.

Peter Bellamy learned this song “from the singing of Geordie Hanna of Co. Tyrone, with additional verses from English variants.” He sang Edmund in the Lowlands unaccompanied on his 1979 Topic album Both Sides Then.

Maggie Murphy sang Young Edmund to Keith Summers in her cottage in Tempo, Co Fermanagh in 1979. This recording was included in 2004 on the Musical Traditions anthology of football, hunting and other traditional songs from around Lough Erne’s shore collected by Keith Summmers, The Hardy Sons of Dan. Rod Stradling noted:

With 180 Roud entries, this ballad classes as one of the big ones—though the bulk of them are from North America. Maggie is one of only four named singers from Ireland, and all are from the North.

Superb CD versions can be heard by Harry Cox (Topic TSCD667) and Geordie Hanna (TSCD653). Sadly, Lizie Higgins’ lovely Young Emsley is no longer available.

Maggie Murphy also sang Edward in the Lowlands Low in 1996 on her Veteran album Linkin’ O’er the Lea. John Howson noted:

This ballad appears in most major folk song collections although it does not often turn up within the tradition nowadays. It seems to have been a great favourite though, as versions were printed on ballad sheets by many printers in England, Scotland and Ireland and several versions have been collected in America. The hero is variously given as Young Edwin, Young Edward and Young Edmund, as in Maggy’s version which was learned from her mother. In Ulster it has turned up several times: Hugh Shields has noted it in Derry and Robin Morton published a version collected from Hugh Lee, Co. Fermanagh in Folk Songs Sung in Ulster. The most notable recording which has been made commercially available is of Geordie Hanna (Topic 12T372).

Jill and Bernard Blackwell sang Edwin in the Lowlands in 1986 on their Fellside album Adventures of Notion. They noted:

We leornt this version from Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. The tune is slightly different from the one sung by Mrs. Hopkins, from whom Charles Gomblin and R. Voughon Williams collected the song in 1907, ond it owes its origins to the Dives ond Lazarus theme.

Martin Carthy sang Young Emma in 1992 on the Fellside anthology of English traditional songs, Voices. Paul Adams noted:

The English always enjoy good melodrama and this song seems to fit the bill. As such it was very popular with broadside ballad printers, thus ensuring it would be widespread. As Young Edwin / Edward / Edmund in the Lowlands Low it has been collected in England, Scotland, Ireland and North America. Ralph Vaughan Williams collected a fine version from a lady in Hampshire, but (with a hint at a possible future project) Martin’s version comes from the Ozark Mountains in the U.S.A. collected by Vance Randolph and obviously went over with emigrants. Unlike many English songs making that journey it has not taken on an American flavour. It also possesses a magnificent melody.

John Kirkpatrick sang Edwin in the Lowlands Low in 1998 on his album One Man & His Box. He noted:

The tune and a couple of verses of this song were recorded from Bert Edwards of Little Stretton, Shropshire, during the BBC field trips in the late 1940’s. Other verses come from some of the many other versions that have been found all over England.

Judy Cook sang Ploughboy of the Lowlands on her 2000 album Far From the Lowlands. She noted:

Source: Traditional American Folk Songs collected by Anne & Frank Warner / Lena Borne Fish (New Hampshire) 1940

Community choirs from the Test Valley sang Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low in 2001 on their WildGoose album Beneath Our Changing Sky. The liner notes commented:

[…] A third song from the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs is the ballad Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low, collected in Axford, near Basingstoke.

Ellen Mitchell sang Young Emsley on her and Kevin Mitchell’s 2001 Musical Tradition album Have a Drop Mair. Rod Stradling noted:

A surprisingly well-known and widespread song, with nearly 180 Roud instances, 17 of which are sound recordings, indicating its popularity in the oral tradition right through into the mid-ninties. About half of the entries are from the USA and Canada, with around a score each from England and Scotland, and half a dozen from the north of Ireland; most of the rest are English broadsides.

Maggie Murphy can be heard singing it on Linkin’ O’er the Lea (Veteran VT 134 CD), while both Harry Cox and Geordie Hanna appear in Topic’s Voice of the People series (TSCD667 and TSCD653 respectively). Ellen got her version from Lizzie Higgins.

Gabrielle Ijdo, daughter of Stanley Robertson and second cousin of Lizzie Higgins, sang Young Emslie to Mike Yates in Aberdeen on 23 March 2002. This recording was included in 2002 on his Kyloe anthology Travellers’ Tales Volume 2. Mike Yates noted:

Gabrielle learnt this broadside ballad from her father, who in turn, had learnt the song from Jeannie Robertson. Equally popular in Britain and North America (there are, for example, eleven sets in the Greig/Duncan collection, and a further eleven sets in Cecil Sharp’s Appalachian collection), most collected versions follow the text printed in the 1820’s by James Catnach of London’s Seven Dials district.

Elizabeth LaPrelle sang Young Emily on her 2004 album Rain and Snow. She noted:

This is another Sheila Kay Adams song; a real bloody murder ballad. My mom and I especially like the last verse.

Barry Lister sang Edwin in the Lowlands in 2006 on his WildGoose album Ghosts & Greasepaint. He noted:

I had this song from that great little book, Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. Collected in 1907 by Vaughan Williams and Charles Gamblin, I have sung it for more years than I care to remember. What a great drama!

Bella Hardy sang Young Edmund in 2007 on her first CD, Night Visiting.

Jo Freya sang Edwin in the Lowlands Low in 2008 on her No Masters CD Female Smuggler. This video shows her at Cheltenham Folk Festival in 2009:

Katherine Campbell from The University of Edinburgh’s Celtic & Scottish Studies sang Young Emma on the CD accompanying her 2009 book of songs from the Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Songs From North-East Scotland. This video shows her singing the song in 2013:

Marilyn Tucker sang Young Emma on her and Paul Wilson’s 2009 Wren Trust album of songs of sea and shore, On the Tide. They noted:

From Joseph Elliott again [like The Ramble-ay]. The song also features in the repertoire of Charlotte Decker in Newfoundland.

Wheeler Street sang Edwin on their 2009 album roodumdah.

Jon Boden sang Young Edward in the Lowlands as the 23 July 2010 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day. He noted in the project’s blog:

Not sure where Martin Carthy got this version, but I think I prefer it to the more common Irish version, although that’s great too (particularly when Paul Brady sings it).

Alasdair Roberts sang Young Emily on his 2010 album Too Long in This Condition. He noted:

This is a fairly fragmented version of the ballad often known as Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low which I learnt from a recording of Dellie Norton of the Asheville, North Carolina area. Fuller versions of th song exist in Ireland (e.g. Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low as sung by Geordie Hanna) and in Scotland (e.g. Young Emslie as sung by Lizzie Higgins of Aberdeen and Ellen Mitchell of Glasgow). In these versions Emily/Emslie has a prophetic dream about her lover ‘lying in a crystal stream’. These versions also make the motive of the father/parents more clear—Edwin is murdered by them for the gold he has won while plundering the lowlands.

Mark T sang Emma on his 2011 album Folk Songs & Ballads. He noted:

Before I became a community musician I was a regular gigging musician and one of the perks of the job was that people often gave me cassettes and, later on, CD-R’s of music they liked and thought that I would like also. More often than not they were right. Emma comes from one such after gig present - an unmarked cassette of unaccompanied traditional singing [Voices]. Amongst the twenty or so tracks on the tape there were some people I recognised June Tabor … addie Prior … and the singer of this song, Martin Carthy. Emma still stands out as the largest gem in a collection of gems and, of course, [the] song is not called Emma but Edwin (Who Died in the Lowlands Low) but I got to know it as Emma (as I felt the song strongly sympathises with [the] girl’s perspective in the story) so Emma it will remain. Incidently my mother used to sing a version of Edwin, in Polish, but in her version the unfortunate lover was called Edmund.

Ali Vass sang Young Emily on her and her brother Mike Vass’s 2011 album Waiting to Fly.

Fiona Hunter sang Young Emsley on her eponymous 2014 CD Fiona Hunter. She noted:

When young sailors came off the boats, pockets full of money, they were often lured into pubs with the offer of a bed and cheap beer—only to then be robbed and murdered. In this song, Emsley begs her sweetheart Edward to stay away from her father’s inn, but he ignores the warning and goes drinking. While asleep, Emsley dreams that her lover has been killed. The dream proves prophetic and when she questions her parents they admit to Edward’s murder.

Thanks to Steve Byrne for alerting me to Lizzie Higgins’ version of this song through the work with the Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o Riches project.

Danny Spooner sang Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low on his 2014 CD Sailor’s Consolation. He noted:

In the British Isles and America, there are many versions of this once very popular ballad. This one, collected by R.V. Williams from a Mrs Hopkins of Hampshire, appears in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs first published in 1959. The songs were selected and edited by Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L. Lloyd and [it] is still a valuable collection though it has been recently superseded by The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, published in 2012.

Pete Wood sang Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low as the title track of his 2014 CD Young Edwin. He noted:

Several people sang this in the 60s, and it’s another ‘Penguin Classic’, but I rather think I’ve bent the tune, something I’m often accused of, but feel relaxed about.

Jim Moray sang Edward of the Lowlands in 2016 on his CD Upcetera. He noted:

Notated by Charles Gamblin from Mrs Hopkins of Axford, Hampshire in October 1907. I learned this from Louisa Killen’s album Ballads & Broadsides (recorded as Louis Killen).

Tim O’Brien sang Edwin in the Lowlands Low, as collected from Jane Gentry of Hot Springs, Northern Carolina, on 25 August 1916 by Cecil Sharp [VWML CJS2/9/2427] , in 2023 on Martin Simpson’s and Thomm Jutz’s Topic album of songs collected from Mary Sands and Jane Gentry, Nothing But Green Willow.

Ewan MacLennan sang Edwin in the Lowlands Low in a 2017 recording that was included in 2018 on Fellside’s final anthology Destination.

Frankie Archer sang Young Edwin of the Lowlands Low in a performance recorded during her February 2023 tour that is available on Bandcamp as Live 2023.

Matthew Byrne sang Young Edmond on his 2025 album Stealing Time. He noted:

Numerous versions of this song have circulated through Ireland, England, and the United States since the early 1800s. I learned this one from Mom, who collected it from Mary Caul of Clattice Harbour, Placentia Bay. The melody is entirely different from any other I’ve heard.

Lyrics

Harry Cox sings Young Edmund

Come all you feeling lovers, give ear unto my song,
Concerning gold, as we are told, that leads so many wrong.

Young Emmy was a servant maid; her love a sailor bold.
He ploughed the main much gold to gain for his love, as we are told.

Young Emma she was daily mourn since her Edmund first did roam,
And seven years have passed away since Edmund left his home.

He went up to young Emma’s house his gold all for to show,
What he had gained all on the main and down in the lowland low.

“My father keep a public inn, that stands down by the sea,
And go you there, young Edmund, and there this night I[?] shall be.”

“I shall meet you in the morning, love. Don’t let my parents know,
That your name it is young Edmund, who ploughs the lowland low.”

As young Edmund he sat drinking till time to go to bed,
But little was he thinking what sorrows thrown his head.

As soon as he had got to bed and scarcely got to sleep,
When Emma’s cruel father into his bedroom creep.

He robbed him; he stabbed him until the blood did flow,
Then he sent his body a-rolling down in the lowland low.

As young Emma she lay sleeping, she dreamt a dreadful dream.
As she dreamt she saw her own true-love and the blood appeared in streams.

Young Emma got up at daybreak; down to her home did go,
Because she loved him dearly, who ploughed the lowland low.

“Oh, Father, dearest Father, now tell me, I entreat,
Oh, where is that young man, who came last night to sleep?”

“Oh, Emma, dearest Emma, his gold will make a show,
And I’ve sent his body a-rolling down in the lowland low.”

“Father, cruel Father, you shall die a public show
For murdering of my own true-love, who ploughed the lowland low.”

“Now, the shells all in the ocean shall make my true-love’s bed,
And the fish that swim all in the sea shall swim around his head.”

Saying sick and broken-hearted to Bedlam had to go,
And her shrieks were of young Edmund who ploughed the lowland low.

Louis Killen sings Young Edwin in the Lowlands

Come all you wild young people and listen to my song:
Concerning gold which I’ve been told does lead so many wrong.
Young Emma was a servant girl, her love a soldier bold
Who ploughed the main much gold to gain for his love, so I’ve been told.

Young Emma she did daily mourn when first Young Edwin roamed.
But seven long years being passed and gone Young Edwin hailed his home.
He went to Young Emma’s house, his store of gold to show
That he had won upon the main above the lowlands low.

Her parents kept a public house that stood down by the sea.
Said Emma, “You may enter in and there the night may be.
I’ll meet you in the morning, don’t let my parents know
That your name is Edwin who ploughed the lowlands low.”

As Emma lay a-sleeping, she dreamed a dreadful dream,
She dreamed her love lay weeping, his blood flowed in a stream.
She got up in the morning and to her home did go,
Because she loved him dearly who ploughed the lowlands low.

“O mother, where’s the sailor boy who come the night to stay?”
“He is dead, no tales to tell,” her father then did say.
“O father, cruel father, you will die a public show
For murdering my Edward who ploughed the lowlands low.”

The fishes of the ocean swim o’er my lover’s grave,
His body rocks in motion, pray God his soul to save.
How cruel were my parents for to murder Edwin so
To steal the gold from one so bold to plough the lowlands low.

Steeleye Span sing Edwin

Come all ye wild young people and listen to my song,
I will unfold concerning gold that guides so many wrong.
Young Emma was a servant maid who loved a sailor bold
Who ploughed the main much gold to gain for his love so we’ve been told.

He ploughed the main for seven years and then returned home,
As soon as he set foot on shore unto his love did go.
He went unto Young Emma’s house his gold all for the show,
That he has gained upon the main all in the lowlands low.

Young Edwin he sat drinking till time to go to bed,
He little thought a sword that night would part his body and head.
And Edwin he got into bed and scarcely was asleep
When Emily’s cruel parents soft into his room did creep.

They stabbed him, dragged him out of bed, and to the sea did go,
They sent his body floating down to the lowlands low.
“O father, where’s the stranger came here last night to lay?”
“O he is dead, no tales can tell,” the father he did say.

“The fishes of the ocean swim o’er my lover’s breast,
His body rolls in motion I hope his soul’s at rest.
The shells upon the sea shore, rolling to and fro,
Remind me of Young Edwin that ploughed the lowlands low.”

So many a day she passed away and tried to ease her mind,
Crying, “O my friends, my love is gone and I am left behind.”
And Emma, broken hearted, was to Bedlam forced to go,
Her shrieks were for Young Edwin that ploughed the lowlands low.

George Hanna sings Young Edmund in the Lowlands Low

Young Emily being a servant girl, her lover a sailor bold,
He ploughed the main much gold to gain for Emily we are told.
When seven long years had passed and gone, he did return home.
He landed to his Emily and all his gold did show,
Sure, that he had gained down on the main, and ploughed the Lowlands low.

Her father he kept a public house; it stood down by the sea.
“Young Edmund you can enter there and all night you can stay,
And I’ll meet you here tomorrow, but don’t let my father know
That your name it is young Edmund who ploughed the Lowlands low.”

As Edmund he did enter there and all his gold did show.
Said Emily’s cruel father, “This gold will be your foe,
For I’ll send your body sinking down in the Lowlands low.”

Ah, as Edmund he did go to bed and scarce had fell asleep,
When Emily’s cruel father into the room did creep.
He dragged and raised him out of bed, and to the beach did go,
And he sent his body sinking down in the Lowlands low.

As Emily on her pillow lay, she had a frightful dream,
She dreamt she saw her young Edmund lying in a crystal stream.
Then early the next morning to her father’s house did go,
All because she loved him dearly, who ploughed the Lowlands low.

Saying, “Father, where’s the stranger come here last night to lie?”
“Oh, he is dead; no tales he’ll tell,” her father did reply.
“Then, Father, cruel Father, you will die a public show
For the murder of young Edmund, who ploughed the Lowlands low.”

Then Emily’s cruel father could not day or night get rest,
For the cruel deed that he had done he therefore did confess.
He was tried and he was sentenced and he died a public show
For the murder of young Edmund, dears, who ploughed the Lowlands low.

Peter Bellamy sings Edmund in the Lowlands

Come all you wild young people and listen to my song:
Concerning gold which I am told do lead so many wrong.
Young Emily was a servant girl, she loved a soldier bold
Who ploughed the main much gold to gain for his true love, we are told.

Now seven long years being passed and gone, to his homeland he did go.
He landed to Young Emily and all his gold he did show
That he had gained all on the main down in the lowlands low.

Now her father, he kept a public house, it stood down by the sea.
“Young Edmund, you may enter there and there the night you may stay.
I will meet you in the morning but don’t let my father know
That your name it is Young Edmund who ploughed the lowlands low.”

Young Edmund he did enter there but all his gold he did show,
Says Young Emily’s cruel father, “All this gold will prove your foe
For I will send your body sinking down in the lowlands low.”

And Young Edmund he went up to bed but scarce had fell asleep
When Young Emily’s cruel father all in the room he did creep.
He stabbed him, dragged him from the bed, unto the beach he did go,
And he sent his body sinking down in the lowlands low.

As Young Emily on her pillow lay, she dreamed a dreadful dream,
For she dreamed she saw Young Edmund lying in a crimson stream.
So it’s early in the morning to her father’s house she did go,
Enquiring for Young Edmund who ploughed the lowlands low.

She says, “Father, where is the stranger who came last night to lie?”
“Ah, he is dead, no tales to tell,” her father did reply.
“O father, cruel father, you will die a public show
For the murder of my Edmund who ploughed the lowlands low.”

Now all the fishes of the ocean they swim o’er my true lover’s grave,
His body rocks in motion, pray God his soul to save.
How cruel was my father to murder Edmund so
And to steal the gold from one so bold who ploughed the lowlands low.

Now Young Emily’s cruel father could not day or night find rest,
For the dreadful deed that he had done he therefore did confess.
He was tried and he was sentenced and he died a public show
For the murder of Young Edmund so dear who ploughed the lowlands low.

Maggie Murphy sings Young Edmund

Come all you loyal heroes and listen unto me,
’Til I’ll unfold concerning gold that leads so many wrong.
Young Mary being a servant maid who loved a sailor bold,
While on the main more gold to gain as [for her] love, as we are told.

Seven long years now passed and gone, young Edmund he came home.
He brought the gold to Mary and to her he did show,
That he had gained all on the main ploughing the lowlands low.

“My father keeps a public house down by yon beech-green isle.
Go there, go there and stop all night where you’ll not be denied.
I will meet you in the morning. don’t let my parents know.
That your name it is young Edmund bold that ploughed the lowlands low.”

Now Henry kept on drinking ’til time to go to bed,
But little was his notion that sorrow had crowned his head.
Said the father to the mother, “Of his gold we will make a show,
And we’ll send his body a-floating down in the lowlands low.”

As Edmund on his pillow lay, he had scarcely fell asleep,
When Mary’s cruel father into his room did creep.
He stabbed him and he dragged him onto the beach below,
And he sent his body a-floating down in the lowlands low.

As Mary on her pillow lay, she dreamt a frightful dream;
She dreamt she saw her true love lie and his blood flow in a stream.
And early the next morning to her father she did go.
For she owned she loved him dearly, he ploughed the lowlands low.

“Where is the stranger slept here last night?” young Mary she did say.
“He’s gone. He’s gone. No tongues will tell. Of his gold we will make a show.
For I sent his body a-floating down in the lowlands low.”

“Oh it’s Father, cruel Father, you must die a public show.
For the murdering of young Edmund bold that ploughed the lowlands low.”

Now Mary’s cruel Father neither night nor day could rest;
Thinking on the deed he’d done, well, guilt he did confess.
He was tried at last, his sentence passed, for to die a public show,
For the murdering of young Edmund bold that ploughed the lowlands low.

Now Mary she can wander down by yon beech-green isle
For to see the great big steamers and small boats pass to and fro.
For to see the great big steamers and small boats pass to and fro;
It reminds her of her Edmund bold that ploughed the lowlands low.

Martin Carthy sings Young Emma

Come all you young people and listen to my song:
I will unfold concerning gold that does so many wrong.
Emma was a serving girl, she loved a soldier bold.
He ploughed the main, some gold to gain,
He ploughed the main, some gold to gain
For his love, so I been told.

Young Emma she had daily mourned since Edward first left home.
Seven long years had passed and gone since Edward had been home.
He returned to Emma’s home again, his gold all for to show
That he had gained all on the main,
That he had gained all on the main
Down in the lowlands low.

Young Edward he sat smoking till time to go to bed,
Not thinking of the trouble that prowled around his head.
Says Emma’s cruel parents, “His gold will make a show,
And we’ll send his body floating,
We’ll send his body floating
Down to the lowlands low.”

Young Edward had gone to bed, he’d scarcely fall asleep,
When Emma’s cruel parents into his room did creep.
They beat him, they dragged him, down to the beach they go,
And they left his body floating,
They left his body floating
Down to the lowlands low.

Now Emma lay sleeping, she dreamed a dreadful dream,
She dreamed her love was murdered and the blood appeared in streams.
She awoke at break of daylight and to his room she go,
’Twas because she loved him dearly,
Because she loved him dearly
Who ploughed the lowlands low.

“O father, where’s that young man come here last night to lie?”
“He’s dead and gone, no tale can tell,” her father did reply.
“O father, oh father, you’ll die a public show
For the murder of my Edward,
For the murder of my Edward
Who ploughed the lowlands low.”

The fish all in the ocean swim over my love’s head,
His body rolls in motion, I hope his soul’s at rest.
The trees all on the mountain, a-tossing to and fro,
Remind me of my Edward,
Remind me of my Edward
Who ploughed the lowlands low.

Judy Cook sings Ploughboy of the Lowlands

To be the daughter of a lord my fate it seemed to be.
And Father chose a wealthy lord my husband for to be.
But I was plain and homely and did not care for show,
So fell in love with Edmund Dale that ploughed the lowland low.

My father said, “My daughter dear, you make my proud heart ache.
To wed beneath your station is surely a mistake.”
I replied, “What is a title? and I do not care for show,
So I will wed my Edmund Dale that ploughs the lowlands low.”

One day as my ploughboy lover was returning home from town,
A robber laid in wait for him and boldly shot him down.
My father with much weeping did now bemoan his fate,
But bitter tears did not avail, his pity came too late.

So after seven lonely years I still remain unwed.
Though I had many lovers my vows were still unsaid.
One day a letter came to me from a dying man in Perth,
Who said he must his sin confess before he left this earth.

He said my cruel father with many coins in gold
Hired him to shoot my lover, to play the robber bold.
This letter to my father I quickly then did show,
And my lover was avenged who plowed the lowlands low.

My father was condemned to die and died a public show
For murdering of my sweetheart that ploughed the lowlands low.
By many I’ve been asked to wed, but I’ll see them come and go,
My heart is with my Edmund Dale that ploughed the lowlands low.

Ellen Mitchell sings Young Emsley

Young Emsley loved a sailor lad,
Young Emsley loved a sailor lad,
And why she loved her sailor lad,
Because he ploughed in the lowlands low.

“If ye go into a public house,
A public down by the shore,
And if you chance to enter it
Do not let my parents know.”

As young Edward sat a-drinking,
As young Edward sat a-drinking,
Oh little, little was he thinking
That sorrow crowned his head.

As young Emsley lay a-slumbering,
As young Emsley lay a-slumbering,
As young Emsley lay a-slumbering
She dreamt fearful dream.

She dreamt they murdered her ain true love,
They murdered him and they stabbed him,
She dreamt they murdered her ain true love
And they sank his body low.

“Oh, mother dear, oh mother dear,
Come tell tae me nae lie,
What did you do with the stranger
Ye had in here last night?”

“Oh, daughter dear, oh daughter dear,
Tae ye I’ll tell nae lie,
We murdered him and we stabbed him
And we sank his body low.”

“Oh, you cruel, cruel parents,
Oh, you cruel, cruel parents,
And for the murder of my ain true love
You will die on a public show.”

Matthew Byrne sings Young Edmond

Come all ye loyal lovers and listen to my song
It’s ofttimes told concerning gold, the cause of many a wrong
Young Emma was a servant girl who loved a sailor bold
And he ploughed the main, much gold to gain for his love as we are told

Young Edmond, he had gone to sea, left Emma for to mourn
Six weeks had scarcely passed and gone when Edmund did return
He went unto his own true love, to her the gold did show
What he had gained upon the main and on the Lowlands low

My father keeps a public house, it stands down on the quay
“Now you go there“ said Emma, ”and stay til the break of day
I will meet you in the morning, don’t let my parents know
Your name it is Young Edmond who plowed the lowlands low”

Edmond, he sat drinking til time to go to bed
And little did he ever think such sorrow crowned his head
Said Emma’s cruel father “Your gold will make a show,
I will send his body floating down along the lowlands low”

Young Edmond on his pillow lay, taking his silent sleep
When Emma’s cruel father unto his bed did creep
He pulled and dragged him out of bed, and dealt a mortal blow
He left his body floating down all on the lowlands low

Emma on her pillow lay, she dreamed a dreadful dream
She dreamt she saw her own true love and the blood from him did stream
She ready rose, put on her clothes, to her father’s house did go
Because she loved young Edmond who plowed the lowlands low

“O father where is that young man who came here last night to lie?”
“Where he is gone no tongue can tell” her father did reply
“O father, cruel father, you’ve proved my overthrow
You took the gold from one so bold, who plowed the lowlands low”

Now the fish that’s in deep waters swims over my love’s breast
His body lies in motion, I trust his soul’s at rest
“And father, cruel father, you will die a public show
For the murdering of my Edmond who plowed the lowlands low”

Acknowledgements

Transcribed from the singing of Martin Carthy by Wolfgang Hell. Thank you!